Press Release: K9 Memorial Dedication Ceremony

SHERIFF TOULON DEDICATES NEW K9 MEMORIAL

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Joined by Former Commission of Correction Chair Alan Croce,

Sheriff’s Office Administration, and K9 Representatives from Other Agencies

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(Riverh

Undersheriff Kuehhas, Sheriff Toulon, and Undersheriff Catalina

ead, NY) The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office dedicated a new memorial to past and present K-9 Officers outside Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.’s office in Riverhead, today. He was joined by Undersheriff Kevin Catalina, Undersheriff Steven Kuehhas, Chief Deputy Michael Sharkey, and K-9 units from many different agencies, including Suffolk County Police, MTA Police, Town of Riverhead Police, Nassau County Police, DEC Police, and the SPCA.

“This is a special day for us at the Sheriff’s Office and in Suffolk County,” said Sheriff Toulon, “because today we have the opportunity to honor and pay tribute to our K-9 Family in Law Enforcement with a monument dedicated to their service.”

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office has six K-9s- three Corrections K-9s and three Deputy K-9s. These K-9 units have been responsible for the recovery of extensive amounts of illegal narcotics -- and the proceeds as well. Over the years, our K-9 units have found missing persons, wanted felons, and recovered evidence from cases of assault, robberies and burglaries. Our Sheriff K-9 units also meet with many community programs around Suffolk County to discuss and demonstrate the role Police K-9s perform every day.

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office’s K-9s also help keep our jails safe and assist with contraband seizures and arrests. Our four-legged K-9 team members help our Correction Officers carry out one of the county’s toughest jobs.

A little about the monument: The granite used to create the monument is from the original material that made up the old Riverhead Jail that was torn down about 80 years ago. The granite had been thrown in the woods in the highway department yard and was recovered about 15 years ago. This is the same batch of stone that was used to create the monument in the front of the building dedicated to the county’s deputy sheriffs and correction officers who died in service. Other than the reclaimed granite, all of the materials used to create this monument were purchased using asset forfeiture funds at no cost to Suffolk County.